Table Mountain and Cableway

If you're visiting Cape Town, Table Mountain is a must-see. Whether you choose to hike or drive to its flat-topped summit (hence the name) or take the Aerial Cable Way, you'll be treated to spectacular views of the city, Devil's Peak and Lion's Head.

Once you're at the top, there a 3 different walking paths to take: the 15-minute Dassie Walk, the 30-minute Agama Walk (providing you with a panomramic view of Cape Town and the peninsula), and the Klipspringer Walk, which ends above Platteklip Gorge. All of these provide you with plenty of photo opportunities, especially if you are into animals; rock hyrax, porcupines, mongooses and more live on the mountain, as well as some poisonous snakes (don't be afraid, just be careful).

Given that you'll be visiting a mountain, much of the activities involve taking advantage of Table Mountain's geographic features. In addition to hiking, Table Mountain's Back Table hides the Wynberg Caves, a series of sandstone tunnels. If you're into rock climbing, this is a fun destination, though stick to traditional climbing (no bolting is allowed). For the bold, abseiling (rappelling) is available at the upper cable station.

Practical Info

The aerial cable is a 5-minute ride from the Lower Cable Station (15 minutes south from the City Centre along Taflenberg Rd.), giving you a majestic shot of the city and the peninsula. Once you've disembarked at the Upper Cable Station, you can either head to an abseiling vendor or continue on to explore the mountain. Or you can stop for lunch - The Table Mountain Cafe is an excellent self-serve restaurant with pizza, gourmet burgers and more.